Decorating Ideas: Beautiful Neutral Bedrooms

Bedrooms with soft and soothing colors

Slide 1 Of Decorating Ideas: Beautiful Neutral Bedrooms

Paul Dyer

Who says a neutral palette has to stop at beige? These soft and soothing hues make any bedroom look timeless and sophisticated. And with a color scheme so versatile, it’s easy to pair fabrics and furniture. Whether a bedroom is modern or classic, lofty or compact, these palettes can transform it into a space of serenity.

Clean lines and fresh colors make for a serene master bedroom. The Japanese screen behind the bed establishes scale consistent throughout the space; the spherical pendant light lends a bit of dimension. The linen-upholstered headboard gets a graphic boost from the Greek-key patterned pillow from Trina Turk.

A loose-patterned De Gournay wallpaper adds casual blue highlights to this white-and-clay-colored master bedroom. The indigo accents are echoed in the drapery and custom bolster pillow from designer Natasha Baradaran. The architectural angles in the ceiling lend contemporary details to the space.

Luxurious linens from Leron in cream, ivory, and gray bring together the trio of hues that harmonize beautifully throughout the rest of this spacious bedroom in the Lake Forest Showhouse. The early-20th-century four-poster features a fretwork headboard and silver-leaf finish for added shine and texture. Wool sateen drapery panels decorated with geometric borders and backed by ivory shades hug the matching bedside tables.

The bedroom’s sitting area faces the bed and glass-topped coffee table. A small work area is centered behind the custom-designed sofa, piped in gray. A slipcovered armchair sits beside the classic fireplace. “We wanted the room to be sophisticated without being too formal,” notes designer Joan Craig of the metallic finishes ranging from the silver-leaf bed to mirrors and glass bedside lamps that enhance the room’s quiet chic. “They accessorize the space like the right piece of jewelry accessorizes a couture outfit.”

Sepia-toned “Harwood Toile” from Cowtan & Tout covers the walls and curtains in this European-inspired guest bedroom. The homeowners’ collection of German Black Forest carvings includes the vintage table lamp, a charming detail that is echoed in the toile’s pastoral scenes.

This master bedroom is cocooned in serene neutrals and loaded with rich textures. The bed from Lee Jofa is upholstered in nickel-colored fabric with a marble-like pattern. Drapery and a framed sketch above the bed lend interest; a fluffy Flokati rug at the foot of the bed adds a touch of playfulness.

A large-scale floral wallpaper designed by Ted Taylor adorns the walls of this master bedroom in shades of muted gray. A velvety ottoman and love seat are upholstered in lovely beige tones, while the custom headboard from Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams injects a sophisticated powder blue into the scheme.

Who says a neutral palette has to stop at beige? These soft and soothing hues make any bedroom look timeless and sophisticated. And with a color scheme so versatile, it’s easy to pair fabrics and furniture. Whether a bedroom is modern or classic, lofty or compact, these palettes can transform it into a space of serenity.

Rich woods and a dramatic four-poster bed frame add dimension to this bedroom. Powder blue stands out on the creamy linens, and a playful cheetah print adorns the pillows for a touch of sass. At the foot of the custom bed, a Kisabeth tufted-back settee is covered in fawn velvet.

In this showhouse bedroom, unique patterns lend interest on the bed sheets as well as the base of the flowing wool felt drapery. A satiny bedspread and upholstered woven-rope lounge chair cushion introduce a pleasant sheen.

This showhouse bedroom offers a breathtaking view of San Francisco Bay, inspiring designer Cathleen Gouveia to model the bed after the Golden Gate Bridge. She suspended the bed using manila ropes fastened to the ceiling. “I wanted guests to feel immediately relaxed and experience the serenity of sitting on a dock—feeling the tactile, organic surfaces, the movement of the sea, the waves, and the kinetic forces of nature,” Gouveia explains.

When designing a room, James Mohn asks “how light, air, well-edited space, and an eclectic mix of objects” can be used to shape a room. In James’s own home, a shaggy wool throw on the bed, woven basket chair, and sisal carpet all add rich texture to this master suite. Light pouring in from an oversize apex window, along with golds, camels, and other buttery colors, also make for a restful space.

Delicate details on the pillows, a studded silver table lamp, and a waffle bedspread all contribute to the textural variety that homeowner Keith Recker was aiming for. “I’m much more of a texturalist,” he admits. “Actually, I’m a textile freak.”

A California home inspired by the architecture of Florence and Tuscany is filled with classic lines and timeless palettes. In the remodeled master bedroom, the muted pink bedspread blends seamlessly with the creamy taupe walls and velvet upholstery. An antique stone fireplace surround is accented by a custom-made fire screen.

Designer Annie Kelly describes the design of this 1914 Los Angeles home as “true to the character of the house, but in a fresh, more modern way. We established a period—the 1940s and 50s—as the time frame that felt right.” The Art Deco mirrored table was snagged from a Pasadena antique mall. A gold bolster pillow and iridescent headboard add a touch of glamour.

Creamy beige and soft sage play the starring role in this bedroom. The clean lines of the bed offer a tidy counterbalance to the twin bookshelves on either side. A tall headboard and matching sconces frame a cozy spot for reading.

Soft colors are paired with luxurious textures in this master bedroom. A close-cropped chenille fabric covers the walls, while the headboard is upholstered in velvet. A 17th-century French chair stands at the foot of the bed, lending antiquity to this exquisitely cozy space.

Designer and homeowner Barbara Glazer says, “I’m not a cookie-cutter anything.” The same is true for her personal style, evident in the design of her own master bedroom. A luxurious throw plays counterpart to the vibrant silk bolster pillows.

One of the most compelling design components of this master bedroom is the presentation of art above the bed. The repeating mini-squares are framed rubber ducks—a bit of humor that packs a wallop of strong graphics.

A guest bedroom is warmed by brown ticking fabric on the walls and brown toile draperies. Elegant antiques add interesting details, complementing the rich tones and classic patterns throughout: English transferware hangs above the bamboo headboard; a bronze Chinese incense burner floats on an acrylic stand in the corner; an antique magnifying glass sits on a side table.

A touch of glamour is added to this Florida showhouse master suite by the mirrored bedside tables with curvy legs that flank the bed. The bed, upholstered in a taupe cotton velvet, is positioned in a carved-out niche. The elegant chandelier with a dramatic silhouette serves as a focal point for the room. Swags of tiny beads in a gunmetal finish hang from concentric frames, creating a graceful drape.

The colorful upstairs bedroom has playful touches that say "all boy" while still maintaining the sophisticated tone that is featured throughout the rest of the house. Custom turtle pillows and the draperies hung with nautical rope complete the beach house room.

Designer and homeowner Skip Sroka wanted a restful and practical master bedroom. The soft bed linens are by Frette, and the ottoman at the foot of the bed is custom-designed by Sroka. The focal point is a striking fireplace with tile by Michael Berman through Walker Zanger. The strié wall finish by Monkton Studios is paired nicely with an antique round mirror.

Designer and HGTV host Monica Pedersen was chosen to design a guest room for the 2011 Lake Forest Showcase House in Illinois. She focused on comfort, incorporating layers of wool damask, silk fabrics, and a soft sisal rug underfoot.

Lavender, cream, and seafoam make up the soothing palette for this showhouse bedroom. Chairs from Hickory Chairs sit in symmetry at the foot of the bed, reflecting the shape of the dominating poster bed. Lamps are from Circa Lighting. Bed linens and duvet are from Beacon Hill, and the quilt is from Oly.

“I like mixing collections and finishes within a space, then pulling it together with common fabrics,” says designer Ron Fiore. “It doesn’t look like it came out of a can.”

The sitting area of the master bedroom, calm and quiet, acts as the ultimate neutral zone between the artist’s studio and the sleeping space. Fabric on the “Leigh Armless Sofa” from Hickory Chair is by Groundworks from Lee Jofa. The “Elliott Wing Chair” and “Amsterdam Dining Chairs,” both from Hickory Chair, are covered in a fabric from Beacon Hill. Wall paint is from Benjamin Moore, and the rug is from Serena & Lily.

Serene earth tones keep this space simple and relaxed. Gauzy fabric from Coraggio Textiles cover the cloud-like canopy, while snowy linens cover the bed beneath. The room and the bed were both designed by Julio Quiñones.

A cool palette of soft blues and blanched wood make this guest bedroom seem restful and inviting. A tufted head- and footboard keep the space looking classic, while simple walls, carpet, and draperies add a touch of modern sensibility.

Clean, contemporary lines in khaki and white blend harmoniously in this peaceful master bedroom. An antique mirror pulled from a French church and the dark four-poster bed bring some sophistication into the airy space.

A mélange of pretty fabrics gives this master bedroom visual interest. Silk panels over embroidered sheers at the windows, a quilted coverlet and plaid skirt on the bed, and a cut-velvet upholstered bench all work together for a serene ambience.